Vehicle parking building



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 8

Hank J Baume INVENTOR.

-BY 1 5 W Filed June 21, 1955 Fig.

Feb. 25, 1958 F. J. BAUME 2,824,654

VEHICLE PARKING BUILDING Filed June 21, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2

Frank J Baume IN VEN TOR.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 21, 1955 Frank J Baume INVENTOR.

Feb. 25, 1958 F. J. BAUME VEHICLE PARKING BUILDING 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 21, 1955 Fig. 3

Rank J Baum INVENTOR.

KM Amrnqs 20 BY MW United States Patent VEHICLE PARKING BUILDING Frank J. Baume, San Francisco, Calif.

Application June 21, 1955, Serial No. 516,876

8 Claims. (Cl. 214-16.1)

This invention relates to improvements in structures and techniques for parking vehicles by mechanical means. It is an improvement over the invention described in my prior Patent No. 2,65 8,632.

Automatic mechanical parking of vehicles in tiers of specially constructed buildings has been successfully accomplished. The desirability of such buildings and automatic parking facilities is established. However, the initial construction cost and maintenance costs are quite high. This is at least in part attributable to the complexity of known parking systems which rely on elevators or a single elevator to place vehicles, usually automobiles, on the various levels of the building. Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a new type of mechanical parking structure for vehicles, wherein a very high degree of simplification is achieved.

Another object of this invention is to provide a building structure of the type having a number of tiers with individual parking stalls, together with a common hatch for all of the stalls, individual cage structure for each stall, and independent motivating means for each cage, this motivating means consisting of sufiicient motor control devices and chains fastened at their ends to the individual cage and to an anchor whereby the chains function to both push and pull the cage.

In order to achieve the above mentioned simplicity the .structure utilizes only a pair of overhead rails housing the chains for the sole support of the cage. There are no :floors required in that the cage for each stall is individual- .ly supported by the overhead rails.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved rail and chain system for an automotive vehicle parking building, wherein there are solely two overhead rails for each vehicle stall, the rails joining common vertical guide means for the rails of each stall, the vertical guide means being longitudinally coextensive with the elevator hatch.

Other objects and features of importance will become apparent in following the description of the illustrated form of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side view of a typical structure embodying the principles of the invention, portions being shown in section in order to illustrate the presence of a vehicle in one of the stalls;

Figure 2 is a front view of the structure of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top view of the structure of Figure 1;

Figure 4- is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing particularly the arrangement of overhead rails, the vertical guide in the cage hatchway, and the relative positions of several cages in the structure;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figure 4 and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 77 of Figure 6 and illustrates the relationship of th overhead guide rails and chain therein; e

2,824,654 Patented Feb. 25, 1958 ice Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing particularly the chain anchoring and drive arrangement together with the manner of stacking individual structural units, each containing two cages and one part of the common elevator hatch;

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a typical cage; and

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on the line 10-10 of Figure 2 and shows especially the manner in which the cage chain and rollers on one side of a vehicle elevator cage are assembled.

ltis a desirable feature to be able to construct a vehicle parking building in prefabricated sections so that any practical height may be attained by merely adding units. However, in automatic parking systems Where single elevators are used to service a number of stalls, this is impractical inasmuch as the elevator hatch must be extended along with the extension of the elevator equipment. In systems employing individual cages for each stall, but relying on central or even interconnected means to operate each cage, the addition of vehicle parking structural units presents other serious mechanical problems in the tying in of motivating means for the newly added cages. Such difficulties are overcome in the illustrated form of the invention, wherein a building 10 is composed of a number of structural units stacked to the desired height. Although ten units are shown in Figures 1 and 2, any practical number may be used as found desirable. Each unit consists of two stalls, for example stalls 12 and 14 in unit 16 of Figure 4. Also included in a single unit is an elevator hatch 18. When the units are stacked to form a building as shown in Figures 1 and 2, they constitute tiers of that building and each tier contains two stalls and its elevator hatch.

Tier 16 typifies the others in many respects. It has an elevator cage 19 in its stall 14 together with an elevator cage 20 in stall 12. Its structural make-up is simplified, consisting of vertical posts 24 in sufficient number to form a rigid structure when bound together by the horizontal binding beams 26. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the structural framework may be covered by walls, but this is not an essential.

In order that the structural units be easily implaced the upper ends of post 24 (Figure 8) are provided with dowel pins 30 that are accepted by the bore of sleeves 32 at the lower ends of post 24 in the unit which is adapted to rest thereon. After assembly in this manner, the units may be welded together.

Elevator cage 20 (Figure 9) is of lightweight metal construction including end panels 34, a top 36 and a floor 38 which has corrugations 40 in it to help maintain the vehicle properly placed thereon and to make certain that it is guided properly toward the center of the cage. A sleeve 42 is welded or otherwise fixed to the top 36 of cage 20, and a shaft 44-extends through it. Each end of shaft 44 (Figure 10) is fashioned in the same way. It has a roller 4-5 near its end and a stud 48 extending from the end. This stud is used for attaching a drive chain to it.

Referring again to Figures 4 and 5, attention is invited to the stalls 5i) and 52 that are disposed in the second tier 54- and are located directly above the stalls 12 and 14. The stall 50 like each of the others, has a container 56 near one outer wall portion thereof and this container is used for holding excess chain while its cage 58 is at rest position within stall. In this regard see container 61 in stall 12 having the excess of chain 62 in it while cage 20 is within stall 12.

A pair of generally horizontal rails extending overhead form the sole support for the chains, and the chains are the only means of retaining and motivating the cage of each stall. All flooring and floor type or floor mounted guideways are eliminated in the use of the overhead rails.

There are two rails for each stall. Figure 5 shows rails 64 and 66 and their relative position with regard to stall 50 which they service. Overhead rail 66 extends from container 60, while overhead rail 64 extends from container 70 which is on the opposite side of unit 16. Each rail (Figures 6 and 7) consists of two channels 72 and 74 connected together along one edge, with the channel 72 opening in a horizontal plane (substantially) while the channel 74 opens upwardly. The upwardly opening channel 74 of rail 66 accommodates roller 80, while the channel 72 accommodates chain 82 the end of which is formed with a roller 84. Roller 80 is disposed at the end of shaft 86, while the chain 82 is secured to the pin 88 protruding from shaft 86. This construction is identical to that disclosed in Figure and serves the same function that is, to support a cage.

Although the rails 64 and 66 are said to be approxi mately or generally horizontal, they have horizontal portions 90 (Figure 4) and portions which are downwardly inclined a slight amount as seen at 92, these latter portions being sloped toward the elevator cage hatch. In this way when the cage is drawn fully within its stall, there will be no tendency for it to roll.

The front rails in each stall are joined with a common vertical guide 94 and the rear rails of each stall are joined with a common vertical guide 96. The vertical guides are formed as part of each unit for example the units 16 and 54 have their guide portions 98 and 100 which are abutted together when the units are assembled as a building structure. structurally, the vertical guide consists of a generally U-shaped channel 102 having confronting channel portions 104 and 106 respectively connected at the outer edge of its sides. Confronting channels 104 and 106 form a way for the shaft roller of each cage, while the channel 102 accommodates the drive and pull chain associated with supporting one side of a cage.

For each stall there is a protective housing 110 which protrudes from a side of the stall containing unit. A commercially available assembly 112, containing an electric motor, reduction gearing and an electric brake, is disposed in each housing 110 and it functions to pay out and withdraw the two chains in each stall. This is accomplished by anchoring one end of the chain to the building structure, as at 114, for chain 82, and securing the opposite end of the chain to the cage supporting shaft, as at 88 in Figure 6. The chain 82 being of the link type is entrained over sprocket 116 that is driven by unit 112, and an idler sprocket 118. The sprocket 116 is keyed or otherwise fixed to the shaft 120 from unit 112, this shaft extending across the stall and having on its opposite end a sprocket in order to drive the identically constructed and arranged chain at the opposite side of its stall.

Each unit, as units 16 and 54 are self-contained and are capable of being fabricated into a building of indefinite height with the number of stalls provided being dependent upon the number of tiers or units employed. The lowermost unit is preferably fashioned with a door and has its part 98 of the vertical guide rail short a sufficient amount to make entry into the cage possible. Additionally, the upper tier has a motor 122 on the top of it, this motor being constructed and arranged to drive winding drums 124 and 126 respectively. The purpose of this is to have readily available an auxiliary means of lifting any cage which may be in the hatch in the event of failure.

In operation the desired cage is removed from its stall and placed in the vehicle loading or unloading position by energizing the motor unit associated with that particular cage. Separate controls for each motor and other appropriate electrical safety devices may be employed. Assuming that a particular cage is at rest in its stall 12 and it is desired to place a vehicle thereon, the motor 112 is energized and caused to operate in such direction that the two chains in the overhead rails 64 and 66 are payed out from their containers 60 and 70. Since the chains are captive in guide rails 66 and 64, they may exert a pushing force on cage supporting shaft 86. Accordingly, the rollers at the ends of shaft 86 are moved along horizontal portions of the rails and then along the downwardly sloped portions 92 until they reach the common vertical guide portion 98 which they enter.

Further energization of the unit 112 in the same direction lowers the cage down the elevator hatch. When it reaches the bottom of the hatch it may automatically deencrgize unit 112 by operating a switch located in the guide 96 or located at floor level. A vehicle may now enter the cage and upon actuation of unit 112 in the opposite direction, the two chains connected with the cage are drawn into their respective containers thereby pulling the cage up the elevator hatch and into its proper stall. It is noted that the description of the illustrated form of the invention refers to chains being used in captive manner within thier rails. It is intended that this expression be construed broadly, that is, to include all types of chains and also to include suitable equivalents as cable.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a parking device for vehicles, a frame structure which comprises a first cage stall and a second stall, said stalls being spaced from each other by an elevator hatch, overhead rails forming a part of said structure, a first cage in said first stall, a second cage in said second stall, chains guided by said rails and secured at their ends to said cages to support and move said cages into and from said hatch, means individually anchoring the opposite ends of said chains to said frame structure, a separate motor drivingly connected to the chains for the first cage and the chains for the second cage a generally vertical guide in said hatch and connected with each rail into which said chains are movable when its cage is being raised and lowered, and a support on each cage to constrain the movement of each cage, each of said supports being mounted to move in said rails and said guide when said cages are being moved.

2. In a vehicle parking building, a frame structure which includes a lower stall and an upper stall, an elevator hatch into which said stalls open, an elevator cage in each stall and adapted to move from said stalls into said hatch and return from said hatch into said stalls. each stall having an overhead rail and a flexible individual chain guided in its travel by the rail thereby constraining the movement of said chain and converting the chain into a mechanical element capable of push and pull functioning, means securing one end of each chain to its cage, means for moving said chains to displace said cages, a common vertical guide for said chains in said hatch communicating with said rails, and a cage support secured to said cage and operable in said rails and said guide.

3. In a prefabricated mechanical parking system, a plurality of tiers, each tier consisting of structural frarning members defining two stalls and an elevator hatch therebetween, a pair of overhead rails in each stall extending toward the center part of said hatch, vertical guide rails in said hatch and in communication with said overhead rails, a pair of chains in each stall and having one pair of ends anchored, one chain being captive in each rail thereby constraining the movement of said chain and converting the chain to a mechanical element capable of pushing and pulling functions, a cage for each stall and adapted to support a vehicle, means securing the cages to the chains in their respective stalls, means drivingly connected to one pair of chains to move the same and the cage connected to them from its stall into and down said hatch, said drivingly connected means consisting of a motor, a support for said motor disposed in proximity to its stall, a sprocket driven by said motor and enmeshed with one of the chains of said pair, and means drivingly connected to the other of said pairs of chains for motivating the same in order to displace its cage.

4. A parking structure for vehicles comprising a frame structure defining a vertical row of stalls, each stall having a pair of overhead rails, an elevator hatch having a common vertical guide into which said rails are communicated, chains held captive in said guide thereby constraining the movement of said chains and converting said chains to mechanical elements capable of push and pull functioning a vehicle cage disposed in each of said stalls and having an overhead support secured to an end of one of said chains, and guide means disposed at the connection between said chains and said overhead support to constrain the travel of the cage in conformity with the configuration of said overhead rails and vertical guide.

5. In a mechanical parking structure for vehicles, a frame structure defining a plurality of vehicle stalls together with a hatch which is in communication with each stall, an elevator cage disposed in each stall, overhead rails in each stall, a vertical guide in said hatch in communication with said rails, individually operative flexible pushing and pulling means in said rails and connected to each cage for moving said cage from its stall and in said hatch, said individually operative means including a motor, a double ended chain anchored atone end and secured to the cage at the opposite end, drive means connected to the motor and drivingly connected with the last mentioned chains, said chains being disposed in said rails and held capive thereby and movable into said vertical guide as the cage is lowered.

6. The parking device for vehicles of claim 1 wherein the separate motor for each cage is individually controllable, a container in each stall in which the motor for the cage that stall is located and the container being adapted to support the chains for the cage of that stall when the cage is located therein.

7. The parking device of claim 1 wherein said rails include an upper, a lower and a side plate in addition to an upwardly opening channel within which a part of said support is located.

8. The parking device of claim 1 wherein said rails include an upper, a lower and a side plate in addition to an upwardly opening channel within which a part of said support is located, said support including a shaft connected to the top of its cage, a roller on said shaft, said roller being located in said channel, and means on the extremity of said shaft connecting said shaft to one of said pair of chains.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,584,212 Burrell May 11, 1926 1,610,789 Jensen Dec. 14, 1926 1,886,943 DHumy Nov. 8, 1932 2,699,266 Maurice Jan. 11, 1955 2,712,875 Leopold July 12, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,059,087 France Nov. 10, 1953 

